When Cupcake Brown sat down to write her memoir A Piece of Cake, her only hope was that at least 10 people purchased the book. She was unsure if her life would be interesting enough for people to spend their hard-earned money to read about her life as a prostitute and drug addict turned lawyer.
It turns out she was wrong. Brown’s memoir spent several weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Brown will be in Indianapolis Nov. 3 as part of Steward & Associates 2011-12 Speaker Series at the Madame Walker Theatre Center to discuss her sobriety and triumphs.
Brown was placed in a number of foster homes after her mother choked to death during a seizure. At 12 she joined a gang and at 15 was shot in a drive-by shooting. After having herself declared legally emancipated, Brown turned to drugs including heroin, powder and crack cocaine, and acid as well as prostitution.
However after time spent in rehab, Brown focused her life on getting and staying clean. Her determination led to her graduating from college and receiving her law degree from the University of San Francisco.
Brown spoke with the Recorder about her hardships and her next book.
Recorder: What did you learn about yourself when writing the memoir?
Brown: (Laughing) I learned that I could write. When you’re actually in hell, you don’t have time to think and reflect because you’re in survivor mode. It wasn’t until the end of the book I thought, “Wow!” Reliving my life clean and sober made me realize how blessed I am to be here.
You wrote about an attorney, Kenneth Rose. He provided you with a job as a legal secretary and got you into rehab. How did he change your life?
Ken didn’t change my life; I changed my life. Whenever you give someone else responsibility for something only you can do, you’re not speaking truth. Ken was an important part of my support group but once I decided that I didn’t want to live the way I was living and I reached out for help, it was Ken and an administrator who suggested that I go to rehab. I was surrounded by a community of people who helped me help myself.
What is it like when people express how your story has impacted the decisions they make?
I’m always humbled that my story has touched someone in a positive way. Before writing the book, I didn’t know other people had struggled with rape and drug abuse like I had. I didn’t know other people felt ugly and struggled through school. It let me know that we’re all connected in one way or another.
Are you practicing law?
I got laid off four years ago and I haven’t been able to find another job. I’m trying, but it’s rough. Meanwhile, my sole income is speaking.
Are you working on another book?
Yes. Initially, I felt like I didn’t have anything to say and I didn’t want to write a book only for the money. For some reason, I thought I had to write a book that was nonfiction. But, the book is likely going to be a fictional book about nonfictional characters. The main character will be modeled after me and she’ll be a lawyer who got disgruntled with law and becomes a private investigator. I’m not sure if she’s going to investigate cases that I talked about in the memoir or if I’ll make them up. I’m excited about it.
